Page 156 of Princes of Carnage

He manhandles me to a car that’s parked a short distance from the clubhouse and opens the trunk, shoving me toward it so he can lock me inside.

But before he gets the chance, a shout rings out in the distance, making him glance sharply toward the sound. He lets me go for a split second, and I don’t waste the opportunity.

I spin around, going for the weapon in his hand. He grunts, shoving me with his shoulder as we both grab the gun, wrestling for control of it. My hands are slick with blood and sweat, making it difficult to get a good grip, but I bare my teeth and try anyway, knowing my life fucking depends on it.

Silas shoves me backward, using his bodyweight against me, but I don’t let go of the weapon, twisting his wrist as I try to break his grip. He pulls the trigger, firing off a shot that barely misses my foot, the bullet burying itself in the ground.

“Shit,” I mutter through gritted teeth.

“Give it up,” Silas hisses. “I don’t want to kill you.”

“Fuck you.” I spit in his face, making him jerk back a little.

But it’s not enough. I’m running on fumes at this point, nausea still roiling my stomach and my injured arm weak and nearly useless with a bullet lodged in it.

He shoves me up against the car, hard enough that it nearly knocks the wind out of me, and I lose my grip on the gun. He raises it to my temple, his other hand wrapping around my throat—

Bang!

Another shot rings out, and I flinch hard, my heart skipping a beat.

Silas’s body jerks forward before he crumples to the ground.

I lean against the car, sucking ragged breaths into my burning lungs, not sure what the fuck just happened as I stare down at him.

Then the Princes walk out of the shadows of the trees.

For a split second, I’m relieved to see them, but then I remember what brought me to the clubhouse in the first place tonight. They’re not my saviors right now. They’re not my anything.

None of them acknowledge me, focusing instead on Silas.

Killian comes over and shoves Silas’s body away from the car with his foot, turning him over so he’s face up on the ground.

The mercenary’s chest heaves with each labored breath, and his eyes are glassy. Blood bubbles from his lips and then dribbles down his chin. He’s clearly dying.

Nico steps forward, staring down at him. “We know who hired you,” he says, his voice hard. “What were you doing for The Saint?”

I flinch in surprise, glancing between Nico and Silas. What?

Silas chuckles, a weak, wet sound. “You haven’t figured it out yet?” he asks between wheezing breaths. “He paid me to organize attacks… on you both. To drive you two together. Making it easy for you to… get close to her.”

My heart lurches as I take in his words. All this time we were chasing down a threat to our territories, and it was all a ruse? People were hurt. People fucking died. And it was just a means to an end?

Nico frowns, surprise and anger contorting his angular features.

“Who is The Saint?” he grits out. “Tell me.”

“I don’t know.” Silas grimaces, twisting the scar on his cheek. “It was all… anonymous. Never saw who paid me. Probably the same for you.” His gaze flicks between the three men. Then he laughs hoarsely again. He has to turn his head to cough, spitting blood off to the side. “Whoever the fuck The Saint is, he was underpaying us both.” His bloodstained lips curve into a smirk as he glances at me. “You have no idea how valuable she is, do you?”

All three of the Princes’ gazes snap to me, surprise on their faces. I swallow thickly, staring down at Silas in confusion.

“What the fuck does that mean?” I whisper.

How am I so valuable? This whole thing was centered around me, apparently. Around giving the Princes access to me. But why? What is it that Silas and The Saint know that I don’t?

Nico starts to lean down, getting in closer to ask another question or demand that Silas tell him what the fuck he’s talking about. But Silas moves faster than I would’ve expected, his arm darting out to one side as he reaches for the gun that fell nearby when he got shot.

My stomach drops, ice surging through my veins.

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